From today's news a report that a $20 million computer-animated film based on the Italian horror comics of Tiziano Sclavi and titled DYLAN DOG: THE FOURTH KINGDOM will begin production in March for a 2006 release.

The production is a joint venture between a new animation company called The Shop, and Platinum Studios. Ian Pearson is directing as well as co-authoring the script with Gavin Blair; both gentlemen worked on the animated series REBOOT and BEAST WARS. Producers are Aaron Gilbert and Scott Rosenberg.

This is excellent news! DELLAMORTE DELLAMORE isn't really an adaptation of the DYLAN DOG fumetti, even though people often confuse it as such. It took me awhile, but I finally collected all seven of the DYLAN DOG English translations that Dark Horse comics did several years ago. I also picked up a gorgeous full color volume in Italy about five years ago - alas, I don't speak Italian. DYLAN DOG is easily one of the best comics I've ever read, from any country. It'll be nice to see a faithful translation of the source material.

D.

David, maybe you could fill me in on the Dellamorte Dellamore/Dylan Dog connection if any? For years I was under the impression the film was based on the character, but with the recently announced plans for a new Dylan Dog filmed adaptation, that misconception has left me somewhat confused...So far I've seen two stories floated on various horror websites, A.) that the creator of Dylan Dog based his comic on the movie Dellamorte Dellamore or B.) That the creator of Dylan Dog based his character on the physical appearance of Rupert Everett some time prior to the film being made and the film was then based on the comic.

Neither of these sound correct. What's the deal?

My understanding of the DELLAMORTE DELLAMORE situation was always that the film was based on a novel (prose rather than graphic, but others may contradict me) written by the creator of the "Dylan Dog" comic (which I'm pretty certain predated the film, as a contemporary review of Soavi's DELLAMORTE by Alan Jones highlighted the lineage).

And now...we wait to see just how wrong I am in this assumption. :)

I totally agree. It is a great comic book, probably up there with Alan Moore's
SWAMP THING in terms of atmosphere. Both are also heavily influenced from
horror films. I've read Dylan Dog's inspired by DAWN OF THE DEAD, DEAD AND BURIED, a giallo take on AFTER MIDNIGHT and others. Even the weaker stuff
are decent. I always felt that the story with the invisible man would make a great
Argento film. For the past month I am trying to read an italian volume that my sister brought me from Italy. I don't speak Italian so I am only understanding words that resemble their English counterparts or show up in Eurocult titles ('Buio', 'Assassino', 'Cacciatore', 'Vetro' etc.). Still it's great stuff and hopefully
the adaptation will come out OK.

What I've always heard about the DYLAN DOG/DELLAMORTE connection was what was stated in a previous post - that Soavi's movie was based on a novel, written prior to the DYLAN DOG fumetti. The fumetti, however, bore enough resemblance to the novel to encourage a direct comparison. It gets even more confusing, however, when you consider that there is a DYLAN DOG fumetti that follows the story of DELLAMORTE! I saw it in Italy (and could kick myself for not buying it). I couldn't read the dialogue, but it was obvious that some of the scenes were taken directly from the movie.

D.